Remembrance of the Daleks

Updated September 30, 2004

SYNOPSIS The Doctor and Ace arrive in London in November, 1963. In fact, they arrive near Coal Hill School, where the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan, attended school (also in 1963). The Doctor has arrived to finish something he was working on before he kidnapped two Coal Hill teachers during his first incarnation.

The task should have been an easy one: get rid of an artifact from Gallifrey's ancient past. Unfortunately the local military has gotten involved. And two factions of the Daleks are interested in the artifact. Can the Doctor finish his task before the Daleks destroy each other and anyone else around?

REVIEW As I mentioned in my review of the overall Doctor Who series, Remembrance of the Daleks was the first McCoy episode that made me sit up and take notice of this diminutive Doctor. I am no fan of the Daleks (their voices just grate for me, though the design is rather unique) but enjoyed this story nonetheless. The Special Weapons Dalek was considerably impressive and the first cliff hanger managed to put a few myths aside. It's just a shame that so much of this episode was edited out. In the 71 edit, several scenes are clarified (especially the Cafe scene, which is one of my favorite scenes in all of Whodom). For a list of .wavs taken from the 71 edits, click here. Thankfully, the DVD release has included most of the cut scenes.

PRODUCTION INFO Produced by BBC in 1988.

AVAILABILITY Available.

Play.com: £11.99 (Region 2 & 4 DVD)
Choices Direct: £16.99 (Region 2 & 4 DVD)
DeepDiscountDVD: $18.73 (Region 1 DVD)
Buy.com: $21.12 (Region 1 DVD)

VHS Video: Originally packaged with The Chase as a Dalek Special. Who North America has the double cassette package for $14.50 (NTSC). The pair of videos have also been known to pop up on ebay from time to time.

SOUNDS As with all my wavs, I have compressed and uncompressed versions.

For the regular 11,025 Hz, 16 bit, Mono sounds, click on the button. For the compressed MPEG Layer-3 sounds, click on the button.

"I don't think you realize what you're dealing with here."

"I persuaded one half of the dalek to materialize where its other half was materializing. The two halves tried to coexist at the same point. The resulting reaction destroyed it."

Doc7: "Ace! You said ten seconds!"
Ace: "Well, nobody's perfect Professor."

Group Captain Gilmore: "What am I dealing with? Little Green Men?"
Doc7: "No, little green blobs in bonded polycarbide armor."

"Good place to put things, cellars."

Ace: "It's not my fault this decade's got no street cred."

Ace: "These Dayleks."
Doc7: "Daleks"
Ace: "Oh, Daleks. Where are they from?"
Doc7: "From Skaro. At least originally. They're the mutated remains of a species called the Kaleds. Left here."
Ace: "When were they left here?"
Doc7: "No! Turn left here."
Ace: "Oh, right."
Doc7: "No, left! You've missed the turning!"
Ace: "What turn, where?"
Doc7: "Why don't you concentrate on where you're going?"
Ace: "Well, I'm doing the best I can. If you don't like it, you drive."

"You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies."

"We've got reason to believe there's a great evil at work somewhere in this school."

"While I undertake a detailed and scientific examination of that van that has so singularly failed to grrrab your attention."

"How do you do? I'm sure I've heard of you."

"Humans!"

Ace: "Professor, I'm hungry! Lack of food makes me hungry, you know."
Doc7: "Lack of food makes you obstreperous!"

Doc7: "Listen to me, Brigadier!"
Group Captain Gilmore: "Group Captain! Group Captain Gilmore!"

[guns blasting] "Give me some of that nitro 9 that you're not carrying."

"I'm very perceptive."

"Your species has the most amazing capacity for self deception matched only by its ingenuity when trying to destroy itself."

"Dangerous things, transmats."

Ace: "What are you expecting to find down here, anyway?"
Doc7: "The unknown."
Ace: "Oh. Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
Doc7: "Probably, but then if I knew what was down here, I wouldn't have to look."

"She doesn't talk to strangers. Very wise."

"It isn't even remotely human."